The cover for this book is a painting by Philip Kearney who is a disabled artist in Ireland. We chose this as the cover because it seemed an appropriate metaphor both for this book and for a good life.

The good life as we understand it involves a journey. It is a voyage of discovery. We begin it at birth and end it probably with our death. We each set out in small boats on unknown seas. Some of us are better sailors than others and are well equipped for travel. Some of us have sturdier boats and more provisions. The seas on which we voyage are unknown to us although they are not altogether uncharted. As we have seen in this book, many previous explorers have recorded their voyages and have noted some of the hazards and wrong turnings as well as providing some guidance along the way. We are not alone in our travels, others share our boat for varying lengths of time, offering support and assistance. And as you can see from the painting, other boats are with us. However we should remain always captain of our journey.

In our search for a good life we are truly explorers. Our destination is not known to us at the beginning of the voyage and is only slowly discovered. And although we may form ideas about what it may be as we travel, these can change with time and circumstances. Our attention is divided between the necessities of keeping our boat afloat and moving and on the learning that we acquire as we go along. The values and ideas about a good life that we acquire as we travel inform our voyage and shape its destination. In this conclusion we explore the implications of making a good life central in our consideration of, and work with, people with intellectual disabilities.

Making a good life central

In our view there are sound reasons for making a good life a central consideration in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Our policies and practices are currently predicated on a view that life can be better for people with intellectual disabilities, not that they can and should lead good lives.